30-Year Council Member Marie McMurray Honored With Murals At Century Park
May 12, 2022
The concession building at Marie McMurray Park in Century now has two murals honoring its namesake, a former longtime council member
Marie McMurry served on the South Flomaton then the Century Town Council for 30 years. She passed away in 2010 at age 84.
Her daughter, Sandra McMurray Jackson, now sits on the council and commissioned murals on each side of the Pond Street park’s concession stand.
“As her daughter, it makes me feel proud. It makes me feel good to pass by here,” Jackson said. “Not only was the park named after my mother, but to see her picture up here and it could stay for generations..it makes me feel good. I hope that the residents of Century, it makes them proud too because it brightens up the community.”
The murals were painted at Jackson’s expense by Pensacola artist Carter Gaston.
“He asked me what did she love. I said she loved flowers, so he painted her picture surrounded by flowers,” Jackson said. “I picked that picture because that was the picture that we had on her obituary. The picture on the other side, that was a glamour shot picture when I was working with the Department of Corrections. They dressed her up in her purple, her purple hat and all that.”
As our interview wound to a close, Jackson stood in front of the painting of her mother. She reached out and touched her face on the concrete block wall.
“I know my mom will be proud. I know she will.”
Pictured: Murals honoring 30-year council member Marie McMurray at the Marie McMurray Park on Pond Street in Century, and her daughter, current council member Sandra McMurray-Jackson. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
Escambia Man Claims $1 Million Lottery Scratch-Off Prize
May 12, 2022
An Escambia County man has won a $1 million top prize in the Florida Lottery’s 50x The Cash scratch-off game.
He chose to receive his winnings as a one-time, lump-sum payment of $890,000.
Haylock purchased his winning ticket from Murphy USA at 2690 Creighton Road. The retailer will receive a $2,000 bonus commission for selling the winning Scratch-Off
Cantonment Woman Found Passed Out At Convenience Store Now Facing Drug Charges, ECSO Says
May 12, 2022
A Cantonment woman allegedly found passed out in a vehicle in front of a convenience store is facing drug charges.
Rose Marie Briones, 40 was charged with possession of a controlled substance without a prescription, possession of marijuana, and possession of drug paraphernalia.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office said Briones was found passed out in a Nissan SUV with the engine running at a Circle K on Olive Road. Deputies were able to wake her up and get her to step out of the vehicle.
She appeared to be under the influence and declined to allow deputies to search her vehicle, an arrest report states. A K-9 responded and alerted on the vehicle.
Inside the SUV, the Sheriff’s Office said they found a glass container with cocaine, presumptive marijuana, four glass smoking devices with burnt residue, a baggie containing methamphetamine, and a grinder that contained a green leafy substance.
Briones stated that the items found in the vehicle did not belong to her.
She remained in the Escambia County Jail Thursday morning with bond set at $3,500.
Ascend Contributes $10,000 To ECSD Summer Reading Initiative
May 12, 2022
Ascend Performance Materials has made a $10,000 contribution to help support an Escambia County School District summer reading initiative.
The “Level Up with Summer Reading” program will run from May 25 to August 5. The district wide program will provide two to four summer reading books to each K-12 student, an additional two to four books for summer school students, and provide summer reading events hosted by various schools.
Photo for NorthEscambia.com, click to enlarge.
Mincey, Blue Wahoos Cruise to 8-2 Victory Over The Trash Pandas
May 12, 2022
Early offense buoyed Cody Mincey once again as the Pensacola Blue Wahoos defeated the Rocket City Trash Pandas 8-2 on Wednesday night.
Mincey (W, 2-1) became the fourth consecutive Blue Wahoos starter to deliver a quality start, allowing just two unearned runs over a career-high 6.0 innings.
The Blue Wahoos scored four runs in the first inning against Brent Killam (L, 1-2), taking advantage of a Preston Palmeiro error to stake Mincey to an early lead. Jerar Encarnacion had the first of his season-high four hits to drive in the game’s first run, and Victor Victor Mesa capped the inning with a two-run blast for his first home run of the year.
Rocket City pushed across two unearned runs in the third on a Trey Cabbage sacrifice fly and Braxton Martinez RBI single, but Mincey kept things in check for the remainder of his outing. Encarnacion hit a two-run homer in the fifth, his team-leading seventh homer of the year, and Mesa brought home his third and fourth RBI of the night with a single in the eighth.
Jefry Yan and Andrew Nardi delivered scoreless relief for the final 3.0 innings to secure Pensacola’s second consecutive win.
The Blue Wahoos continue their series against the Rocket City Trash Pandas on Thursday.
by Erik Bremer, Pensacola Blue Wahoos
UPDATED: Boil Water Notice Rescinded For Molino Utilities Customers
May 12, 2022
UPDATE: THIS BOIL WATER NOTICE HAS BEEN CANCELED.
A precautionary boil water notice has been issued following a water main break on Molino Road on Wednesday.
The precautionary boil water notice has been issued due to the water main repair in the area of Sunshine Hill Road west to 5341 Molino Road, Barrineau Lane and Settle Road.
The utility is advising, as a precaution, that all water used for drinking, cooking, making ice, brushing teeth, or washing dishes be boiled. A rolling boil of one minute is sufficient. As an alternative bottled water may be used.
This precautionary boil water notice will remain in effect until the bacteriological survey shows that the water is safe to drink.
(Updated 5/13/21)
Missing Juvenile Located
May 11, 2022
UPDATE: Zander West has been located.
The Escambia County Sheriff’s Office is looking for a missing juvenile last seen on Williams Ditch Road near Highway 95A
Zander Kole West, 12, was last seen about 7:10 Wednesday morning. He was wearing red, black and white Vans shoes, dark sweatpants, and a dark hoodie.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the ECSO at (850) 436-9620.
West has been reported missing about a half dozen times in the past year, according to the ECSO.
Metal Plant Coming To Bay Minette With 1,000 Jobs; Officials Say That’s Good News For North Escambia County
May 11, 2022
Alabama Governor Kay Ivey announced Wednesday that Novelis Inc., a world leader in aluminum rolling and recycling, plans to invest more than $2.5 billion to build a new low-carbon recycling and rolling plant in Baldwin County.
The facility at the 3,000-acre South Alabama Mega Site, located in Bay Minette, will create approximately 1,000 jobs, which Novelis projects will pay an average annual salary of $65,000.
The facility will be located about 10 miles from Florida and North Escambia (about 15 miles driving distance due to the Perdido River).
Speaking in Century Tuesday, FloridaWest CEO Scott Luth said the jobs will be important for the surrounding communities, especially for Century and the communities in North Escambia.
“At the end of the day the framework is all around our talent,” Luth said. “Building that talent is so critical.”
“People from Century drive to the plant in Brewton, and to Cantonment to work. There are people here that did it for 30 years,” Century Mayor Ben Boutwell said. Novelis’ facility will be a 35 mile drive from Century.
“I think this is huge for our area. It will be a transportation issue for some people, but maybe they could carpool,” Boutwell added.
Atlanta-based Novelis said the Alabama facility — the first fully integrated aluminum mill built in the U.S. in 40 years — will leverage the company’s long-term relationships with leading beverage, packaging and automotive brands seeking sustainable aluminum solutions.
“With this massive investment and these large-scale hiring plans, Novelis will launch a high-tech aluminum mill that will generate significant economic impacts throughout the region for generations,” said Governor Ivey. “Novelis is a world-class company, and we know that it has selected a prime location in Sweet Home Alabama and specifically Baldwin County as home for its growth plans.”
Novelis said the new plant will be the most sophisticated and sustainable of its kind and will have a strong focus on employee safety.
The facility will be powered with renewable energy, use recycled water and be a zero-waste facility. Novelis is committed to being a carbon-neutral company by 2050 and plans to reduce its carbon footprint by 30% by 2026.
In addition, the Baldwin County plant will make use of advanced automation and digital technologies, including artificial intelligence, augmented reality and robotics. The facility will have an initial 600 kilotonnes of finished aluminum goods capacity per year.
“Through this investment, we are making a demonstrative commitment to continue to grow alongside our customers and meet their needs for low-carbon, highly sustainable aluminum solutions,” said Steve Fisher, President and CEO of Novelis. “In addition, we are well positioned to efficiently expand capacity at this facility in the future — above the 600kt announced today — to capture ongoing strong demand. Our readiness to invest to serve growing markets is a perfect example of how we are delivering on our company purpose of shaping a sustainable world together.”
Site work is under way now, and Novelis expects to begin commissioning the facility in mid-2025. AIDT, Alabama’s primary workforce development agency, will assist Novelis in assembling and training a workforce for the facility.
“Novelis’ decision to locate the nation’s most technologically advanced aluminum mill in Baldwin County is a powerful testament to both the state’s attractive business climate and to the capabilities of our talented manufacturing workforce,” said Greg Canfield, Secretary of the Alabama Department of Commerce. “The magnitude of this project makes it a game-changing development for Alabama’s industrial sector and a jobs engine for the region.”
Novelis serves customers from a wide variety of industries including beverage packaging, automotive, building and construction, aerospace and consumer electronics. The Baldwin County facility will primarily serve the growing beverage can market.
The plant will also serve the automotive market, where aluminum is the fastest growing material, as automakers make plans to achieve their sustainability goals. Aluminum produced by Novelis can be found in more than 225 vehicle models produced by leading automakers around the globe.
Cantonment Man Charged With Inappropriately Touching Underage Girl
May 11, 2022
A Cantonment man is accused of inappropriately touching an underage girl.
Cecil Allen Hanna, 67, was charged with felony lewd and lascivious behavior with a victim 12 to 16 years old. He was released from the Escambia County Jail on a $20,000 bond minutes after he was booked.
In March, the victim disclosed that she and her sister were sleeping in the loft area of a home two years prior with Hanna behind her, according to the Florida Department of Children and Families. Hanna then placed his hand on her breast and told her the next morning not to tell her mother, the report continues. A year later, he allegedly made an inappropriate comment to the girl.
The victim’s sister told investigators that her sister had told her about the incident, but Hanna had never touched her inappropriately. She said he has made inappropriate comments to her, but she was not able to remember what he said, the report states.
The victim’s mother did not learn of the allegations until March, and she confronted Hanna, according to the Escambia County Sheriff’s Office. Hanna told the mother that he was asleep and did not realize he was touching the girl, the report states. The mother then informed Hanna that he needed to leave the home.
Hanna notified Sheriff’s Office investigators that he had retained an attorney and would not be speaking with them.
The relationship between Hanna and the family was redacted from the arrest report. However, the report states it was not a domestic violence incident.
Century Explores Community Inventory As Part Of $35,000 Competitive Florida Partnership Grant
May 11, 2022
Century, with the assistance of FloridaWest, was one of just eight small and rural communities in the state awarded a $35,000 Competitive Florida Partnership Grant.
The grant will be used to elevate the area’s education, training and skilled workforce to meet current industry and business demands.
Tuesday morning, FloridaWest held a meeting to discuss a community inventory — what businesses, services, community organizations and other groups exist in Century — and how to connect those groups with the local workforce.
The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity partners with communities to help them leverage this unique assets and set realistic goals. They will also work to connect the communities like Century with available state and federal resources.
The grant was awarded on a cost reimbursement basis.
Pictured: Community partners discuss a $35,000 Competitive Florida Partnership Grant and a community inventory during a meeting Tuesday morning in Century. NorthEscambia.com photos, click to enlarge.
